This remodeled historic barn in the Swiss Alps proudly shows off its age

By Alexander Walter|

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2017

Photo: Thomas Jantscher

Swiss firm savioz fabrizzi architectes took on the task of remodeling a 19th-century barn into a house for one of the studio's two partners in the small municipality of Ayent, high up in the Swiss Alps. Rather than covering up and hiding the structure's history of modifications and expansions, the architects chose to decidedly accentuate the unique textures on the facade, only unified in one layer of dark paint.

"This barn, built in 1882 in the middle of the fields, was used for housing during the pasture season. In 1980, the addition of a floor and the roof transformation modified its appearance and its allocation significantly; the building became a holiday home."

Photo: Thomas Jantscher

"Our new intervention reveals the history of this building by showing all the materials used for the façade over the years. The original stones, the bricks added in the eighties and the contemporary concrete modifications are disclosed and dark paint makes all these raw textures uniform."

Photo: Thomas Jantscher

"Far from the smooth appearance of some holiday chalets, the façade treatment calls to mind the functional aspect of the ancient barn, more rudimentary than aesthetic. In a site surrounded by fields and forest, the living room opens up to nature."

Photo: Thomas Jantscher

"Four boxes covered with dark wood emphasise the corners of the spaces. They are separated with large windows from floor to ceiling, which can open wide, extending the spaces to the outside. The grey shades of the interior materials reinforce their framing and contrast with the landscape. A wood stove along with solar cells supply heating."

This remodeled historic barn in the Swiss Alps proudly shows off its age

By Alexander Walter|

Tuesday, Sep 26, 2017

Share

Related

Swiss firm savioz fabrizzi architectes took on the task of remodeling a 19th-century barn into a house for one of the studio's two partners in the small municipality of Ayent, high up in the Swiss Alps. Rather than covering up and hiding the structure's history of modifications and expansions, the architects chose to decidedly accentuate the unique textures on the facade, only unified in one layer of dark paint.

"This barn, built in 1882 in the middle of the fields, was used for housing during the pasture season. In 1980, the addition of a floor and the roof transformation modified its appearance and its allocation significantly; the building became a holiday home."

Photo: Thomas Jantscher

"Our new intervention reveals the history of this building by showing all the materials used for the façade over the years. The original stones, the bricks added in the eighties and the contemporary concrete modifications are disclosed and dark paint makes all these raw textures uniform."

Photo: Thomas Jantscher

"Far from the smooth appearance of some holiday chalets, the façade treatment calls to mind the functional aspect of the ancient barn, more rudimentary than aesthetic. In a site surrounded by fields and forest, the living room opens up to nature."

Photo: Thomas Jantscher

"Four boxes covered with dark wood emphasise the corners of the spaces. They are separated with large windows from floor to ceiling, which can open wide, extending the spaces to the outside. The grey shades of the interior materials reinforce their framing and contrast with the landscape. A wood stove along with solar cells supply heating."